BSE Sensex closes 144 Points up, Metal Stocks gain

 A benchmark index of Indian equities markets, the 30-scrip BSE Sensex, provisionally closed Thursday’s trade up 144 points or 0.49 percent. The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) was also made gains in the day’s trade. It was provisionally up 29.40 points or 0.33 percent at 8,898.50 points. The BSE Sensex, which opened at 29,434.91 points, closed the day’s trade at 29,464.41 points (3.30 p.m.), up 144.15 points or 0.49 percent from the previous day’s close at 29,320.26 points.

The BSE Sensex had touched a high of 29,522.86 points and a low of 29,108.15 points in the intra-day trade. Sector-wise, healthy buying was observed in metals, capital goods and information technology (IT) stocks. However, bank, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and healthcare scrip came under selling pressure. The S&P BSE metal index surged by 368.02 points, capital goods index increased by 287.86 points and IT index moved up by 86.63 points. However, bank index plunged 110.30 points, FMCG index declined by 73.04 points and healthcare index was lower by 47.27 points.(IANS)